WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - The University of Notre Dame rowing team nearly posted an unblemished race record Sunday, claiming five of six grand final contests to earn the 2013 BIG EAST Championship on Mercer Lake. The performance clinched the 10th straight, and final, BIG EAST Conference title for the Irish.

Notre Dame scored a total of 151 points to finish 22 points ahead of runner-up Louisville (129 points). Syracuse posted a third-place team finish with 128 points, while Rutgers (94 points) and Georgetown (85 points) rounded out the top five.

The Irish, ranked 11th in the most recent Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing team rankings, opened the finals with a head-to-head race victory over No. 19 Louisville in the third varsity four. The Notre Dame launch of coxswain Maggie McKee, Sarah Russel, Anne Blieszner, Elizabeth Linnemanstons and Megan McKeon logged a time of 8:20.902 to down the Cardinals by nearly eight full seconds (8:28.797).

Notre Dame claimed its third victory of the day in the varsity four, outpacing Louisville for the second time in three races. The Irish crew of Danni Schneider, Kelsey Murphy, Ellen Gleadow, Stella Willoughby and Kiersten DeHaven (7:47.563) edged out the runner-up Cardinal entry (7:55.317). Syracuse checked in with a time of 8:00.582 (third place), while Connecticut (8:25.169) and Rutgers (8:34.874) finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Notre Dame will look to qualify for the NCAA Championship for the second straight season when the championship field is announced Tuesday at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com. The Irish, along with the Indiana Sports Corporation, will co-host the NCAA Division I Rowing Championship May 31- June 2 at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.